The Ogoni Youth Stakeholders Forum has welcomed reported developments in the ongoing Ogoni Dialogue Committee (ODC) process, saying concerns raised by youths and other stakeholders are beginning to yield results.
The forum, in a statement signed by its leader, Comr. (Dr.) Nwisabari Bani Samuel, said the reported decisions followed a meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
It said the review of the dialogue approach, reconstitution of the harmonisation committee, improved access to information, disclosure of the 40 Ogoni youths associated with NNPCL employment opportunities and publication of contractors handling the Confidence Building Projects could help restore confidence, transparency and inclusiveness in the process.
The forum also congratulated Senator Olaka Nwogu on his reported emergence as the new coordinating figure in the renewed Ogoni Dialogue Process.
It urged Nwogu, who represents Rivers South-East Senatorial District, to use the opportunity to address concerns surrounding the process and establish greater openness, accountability and direct engagement with Ogoni stakeholders.
The group called on the senator to engage community, youth, traditional, professional and civil society stakeholders while ensuring that information about the dialogue is made accessible to the people.
The forum said the developments were significant because they addressed some of the concerns raised during a warning protest organised and participated in by Ogoni youths.
Among the demands, it said, were transparency and accountability in the dialogue process, disclosure of the 40 Ogoni beneficiaries of the reported NNPCL employment opportunities, transparency in the Confidence Building Projects, broader access to information and greater inclusion of Ogoni people in decisions affecting the process.
It also demanded that the people of Ogoni be given an opportunity to scrutinise any proposed agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before its adoption.
The forum particularly welcomed the reported suspension of the proposed MOU signing pending broader scrutiny and consideration by the Ogoni people through the Ogoni Congress.
It said its position had never been against dialogue, stressing that genuine dialogue remained an important pathway towards addressing longstanding issues affecting Ogoniland.
“Our concern has always been the process, the transparency of the process, the inclusiveness of the process and the need to ensure that the benefits arising from the process are not restricted to a few individuals or interests,” the statement said.
The group commended stakeholders who had listened to the concerns raised by Ogoni youths and were working towards a more transparent and inclusive process.
It, however, urged Senator Nwogu and other stakeholders to ensure that the reported decisions were translated into concrete actions.
The forum specifically called for the prompt and open disclosure of the 40 Ogoni employment beneficiaries and contractors handling the Confidence Building Projects.
It also welcomed proposed town hall meetings across the four Ogoni Local Government Areas, saying the engagements should provide opportunities for residents to ask questions, receive information, make submissions and participate meaningfully in the process.
The forum said the Ogoni people deserved a dialogue process founded on trust, transparency, accountability, inclusion and fairness.
